Vauxhall Vectra

Vauxhall Vectra i32

Back in 1989, Vauxhall bought Lotus. To show off exactly what it had achieved by taking over the Norfolk-based sports car maker, GM gave the engineers at Hethel a Carlton GSi 3000 and asked them to transform it into a fire-breathing super saloon - which they did.

Auto Express Car Reviews

By Craig Cheetham

June 2003

Rating:

Back in 1989, Vauxhall bought Lotus. To show off exactly what it had achieved by taking over the Norfolk-based sports car maker, GM gave the engineers at Hethel a Carlton GSi 3000 and asked them to transform it into a fire-breathing super saloon - which they did.

The result was the legendary Lotus Carlton, the first four-door to crack the 170mph barrier and a machine that won instant admiration from performance car fans everywhere. The hot Carlton was, and has remained, the fastest-ever Vauxhall. Until now...

With the help of German tuning firm Irmscher, Vauxhall has created an even more scorching sedan. And while it might not have the bespoke air of a properly refined, designed-from-scratch sports machine such as the Lotus Carl-ton, the 177mph Vectra i32 is none-the-less a sparkling piece of kit.

Yes, that's right, Vectra. The very same model that usually pounds up and down the M1 with a ruddy-faced salesman behind the wheel. So what makes this one so special? From the outside, it looks like a slightly meatier Vectra GSi with unique 18-inch alloys, while the interior is almost off-putting with its unusual striped leather seat facings. Think Seventies' motorcycle jacket and you get the general idea.

But its true appeal lies under the bonnet, where Irmscher has not only remapped the ECU and improved the airflow, but also bolted on a supercharger. The net result is 302bhp and 370Nm of torque, fed to the front wheels through a five-speed manual gearbox. The performance is phenomenal, with 0-60mph possible in around six seconds and a top speed of 177mph - 2mph faster than the Carlton.

Plant the pedal to the metal with the traction control on, however, and you'd believe the i32 has the same powerplant as a 3.2-litre Vectra. The system automatically limits the engine revs to prevent any driveshaft-destroying getaways.

Switch off the assistance and it's easy to see why. Without the system, the car becomes brutal, shredding rubber at the merest squeeze of the throttle. To cope with the power, Irmscher has uprated the suspension, and the i32 has a much less forgiving ride than the GSi, crashing over potholes and proving especially uncomfortable for rear passengers.

The firmed-up suspension does aid grip, however, and through bends the car feels well balanced, with only its dead steering detracting from an otherwise impressive handling package.

More disturbing is the i32's huge torque steer. Plant the throttle as you pull away from bends and the steering wheel tugs from side to side as the car struggles to distribute the power evenly, while keeping the throttle down along bumpy roads requires intense concentration as the car wanders alarmingly.

Vauxhall has yet to decide whether or not to bring the i32 to the UK. The model we drove is being assessed by engineers, and it's likely that the supercharged powerplant will be offered as a conversion before the end of 2004.

But don't bank on it being cheap. Sources suggest the upgrade could cost as much as ΂£10,000, while on test we managed a combined economy figure of only 13mpg.

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